Hedge-trimming machine



2 RU E V T.. L O W R HEDG TRIMMING MACHINE.

No. 381,508; y PmentedApr. 17, 1888.-

No. 381,508. Patented Apr. 17, 18

N PETERS. Fhuwumngmphw. waswgw". n. c.

'Nrrnn STATES PnfrnnrI REUBEN W. OLlVER, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

vHE ocnamrnnviivnrie MACHiNE.

.T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be itlrnown that I, REUBEN W. O'Livnn, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hedge-Trimming Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fnll, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

My invention relates to au improvement in hedgetrimming machines, the object being to provide a device for this purpose that will permit an adjustment of the cutter-head to any desired angle for clipping the sides of a hedge by simple and reliable mechanism.

A further object is to construct an independent top trimmer having a verticallyadj nstable cutter-head, and one adapted to change the form of the hedgetop by cutters bent at different angles.

A further object is to afford a means of changing the inclination of the side cuttinghead of the hedgetrimmer while the machine is in operation.

A further object is to afford a means of arresting the motion of the cutter-heads instantly without stopping the progressive movement of the machine.

A further object is to provide a gage to facilitate the proper trimming of a hedge.

A further object' is to furnish a guard to prevent accidental Contact ofthe operator with a revolving cutterhead.

Vith these objects in View my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, that will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this speciiication, Figure l is a top plan View of the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line or x of Fig. l. Fig. e is a detached viewof the operating-gear of the machine. 4 Y

A represents the main frame of the machine, preferably made of wood and rectangular in form. At four points near the corners of this frame the upright standards a. are secured, which give stable support to the top frame,C, the latter having two cross-barsGz, attached to the upper surface to give support by box bearings g gto the drive-shaft H.

The drive-shaft H has a bevel-pinion, H', affixed on one end, which meshes with a bevel- Wheel, G13, rigidly secured to the upper end of the bevellgear shaft G', which is supported upright by the box h, attached to the transverse bar O on the top frame, G. The lower end of the bevelgear shaft G is supported in a box secured to the step-lever K, and rests thereon to vbe moved laterally when this lever is moved sidewise upon its pivot end i, and in this manner throw the cutterheads into or ont of motion, as will be explained.

Immediately above the lower end of 'the bevel-gear shaft G' a bevel-pinion, c, is fastened rigidly upon said shaft G', this pinion meshing with a bevel-Wheel, G2, on the maingear shaft G, which is supported to rotate in boxes affixed to the under side of the main Vframe A. The main-gear shaft G is further provided with a pinion, b, that meshes with the gear-teeth formed on the inner face of the rim of the driving-wheel B. This wheel and wheel B2 are loosely mounted and secured upon the axle B to afford a rolling support to the machine. v

Upon the top frame, C, the cntterframe D is attached by hinges D to have a limited vertical movement, the center of motion of the hinged joints o o being Ain a horizontal plane with the center of the driveshaft H.

The hinged frame D consists of the parallel` bars D3, attached at one end to hinges D', as stated, and a cross-bar, D2, rigidly secured to the parallel bars, said vcross-bar affording a support for the shaft I, which carries the cutter-head J upon its outer end by means of a box-bearing, J', that permits a rapid rotation of the shaft. IThe shaft l is connected to the drive-shaft H by a universal j oint,l, which permits a vertical vibration of the hinged frame D, as well as of the shaft l. The centers of the hinge-joints o and of the horizontal pivots of the universal joints lying in the same plane, it is evident that the shaft I may be made to swing with the vertical movement ofthe frame D, and the cutter-head J be given a corresponding movement to incline it from a perpendicular position When desired.

. height of the hedge and of suitable weight to give the required momentum to insure effective action of the cutters E', which are preferably sickle-shaped, thesecutters being secured in recesses formed in the peripheral edge of the cutter-head to insure stability. The eX- tensins E2 of the cutters, that lie on the face of the cutter-head E,atford a means of connecting these cutters E' to the head by boltsinserted ,through the portions E2 and rim of the head.

Immediately below the hinged frame D the camshaft F is supported by its journaled ends s in boxes s', secured to or formed in the top frame, C. The cam-shaped projections F', adapted 'to upbear the free end of the hinged frame D, project from the shaft F at proper points on its surface to afford such a support, and it will be noticed that there are shouldered projections o' o' made on the cams, that act as checks to prevent a lateral movement of the hinged frame D, and consequent injurious strain of the hingedjoints, by reason of their abutment on the opposed faces of the hinged frame. The movement of the hand-'lever d, attached to the rear end of the shaft F, will rock the latter, and its cams F, by impinging against the parallel bars D,raise or lower the frame, and the cutter-head J will be inclined more or less from a perpendicular position.

The hand-lever d, affixed to one end of the shaft F, is held at any desired point by the ratchet-bar d', which latter is affixed to the top frame, C, at a convenient point, the ratchetbar and lever d having a position in front of the driver to permit ready access to the lever when a change of adjustment is desired to cut a different slant on the side of the hedge.

On one corner of the main frame A, which is extended rearwardly a suitable distance, the step-box L is attached to give revoluble snpport to the upright shaft L', upon which the horizontal cutter-head L2 of the hedge-top trimmer is adjustably secured by means of a key, Z, or any proper means, inserted between the shaft L' and the head L2 at any desired height on the shaft. This head L2 is preferably made of metal of a thickness and diameter to give it necessary weight. The cutters f of the cutter-l1ead L2 are seated in grooves or recesses eut in the top face of head at proper points, two or more cutters being employed, which are bolted to the head. The portions of these knives that extend to have cutting contact with the top of the hedge are preferably made sickle-shaped, and these cutters are bent to give any desired form, as it is apparent that any set or bend given to the projecting cutter from a horizontal plane will give a corresponding form to the hedge-top, different sets of cutters being employed to change to any preferred style of hedge-top.

A supporting-bracket, L3, is bolted to the top of the main frame A at a suitablepoint to A cord, M, is made to engage the pulleys Gr4 and L4, and thus transmit motion and power derived from the driving-wheel B to the eutter-head L, the sprocket-wheel Gr4 being fixed upon bevel-gear shaft G', and it will be seen Vthat the bracket L3 will act as a guard to prevent the occupant of the seat N from comin-g in contact with this cord.

In order to prevent accident to the driver when the machine is in operation, aguard, S, is erected between the seat and the upright shaft of the horizontal cutter'head to avoid injurious contact with its cutters.

The seat N is located upon the spring-support N', which is secured to the main frame at or near the center of the same, a footrest, N2, being provided, which is affixed to' the same timber upon which Athe seat -support is attached.

The lever K is pivoted at z' to the frame A, and alittle rearward of this point the lower end of shaft G' is stepped in the lever. The free or rear end of lever K is loosely connected by link K2 to the pivoted lever K', so that when the latter is shifted laterally the lower end of the shaft G', from theloose engagement of this shaft near its upper end between the bar O and box. h,is also laterally shifted,throw ing its beveled gear-wheel c either into or ont of engagement (as the case may be) with the wheel G2. Thus when the lever K' is held by thelatch ein the adjustment shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, the bevel gear-wheels c and G2 mesh with each other and the machine is said to be in gear. With the opposite movement of lever K' the wheel c is removed from contact with the wheel G2, and the machine is thrown out of gear.

When the lever K' is released from the latch- IIC) hook e and is given a reversed position, the

bevel-gear shaft G is moved at its foot and the gear-wheels and pinions that were in meshing adjustment are separated, a stoppage of rotative movement of the cutter-heads resulting therefrom.

In order to afford a ready means of aligning the position of the advancing hedge-trimmer with the nished portion of thehedge, a gagebar, P, is supported in a sliding position on the lower surface of the timber of the frame A, upon which the upright shaft L is sustained. This gage-bar Pis Tshaped, and has its projecting portion P' made to lie in contact with the side surface of the main frame A. This piece P,fo rming the gageboard,extends longitudinally of the machine, and is preferably located a little below the cutter-head L2, and in operation is made to line with the face of the cutter-head E, and the thumb-screwp is turned to hold it in the desired position previous to starting the hedge-trimmer to work. The

IIS-

jointed shaft, and a cam-shaft transversely lo-- 381,508 l l :a

gage-board will by this adjustment of its outer edge have a slight contact with the trimmed portion of the hedge, and acts as an indicator to the driver, who can by observing the position of the gage-board determine the proper line of progression of the machine to give the best results in regard to the uniformity of surface of the trimmed hedge-wall.

Many slight changes might be made in the constructive features of this device without departure from the spirit of my invention. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to exact forms shown; but,

Having fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination, with a suitable frame, a jointed shaft journaled therein, and a cutter-head affixed to the shaft, of a rocking cam-shaft located transversely beneath the jointed shaft, and means for rocking said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination, with a jointed shaft and a cutterhead secured thereon, of a rocking shaft transversely located beneath the jointed shaft, said rocking shaft having cams thereon, and means for rocking and locking the shaftin the desired position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a rotary jointed shaft and a cutter-head rigidly secured there-l on, said head having a set of detachable cutters, of a hinged frame adapted to support the cated beneath one end of the hinged frame for elevating or depressing the latter by itsv rotation, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hedge-trimming machine, the cornbination, with a rotary cutter-head having detachable cutters, a jointed shaft, a cam-shaft, and cams, of a hinged frame, hinges in line i with the joint of the drive-shaft, a coupler that affords universal movement to the connected sections of the jointed shaft, a lever fixed to the cam-shaft, and a ratchet-bar to secure the cams in elevated or depressed position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a rotary jointed shaft, a cutter-head secured thereto and having cutters attached, and a cam-shaft located transversely beneath one end of the jointed shaft and having cams thereon, of a driveshaft, a drive-wheel, and gearing to connect the drive-shaft to the drive-wheel,substantially as set forth.

6. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination, with a rotary cutter-head secured on a jointed shaft, a hinged frame adapted to support the shaft, a cam-shaft and cams, a

drive-shaft,andgear1ngto communicate motion from the driving-wheel to the cutter-head, of a bevel-gear shaft, a lever pivoted to the frame and affording a support in which the lower end of the bevel-gear shaft is stepped, and a hand-lever loosely connected to the pivoted lever, whereby the latter is laterally shifted, substantially as set forth.

7. In a hedge-trimmingmachina the combination, with a rotary cutter-head adapted to trim the sioped sides of a hedge, of a gageboard located tothe rear of the main cutterhead and adapted to align with the latter in its various adjustments, and a device for securing said gage-board in the desired position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REUBEN W. OLIVER.

Witnesses:

VOLNEY Simson, JOHN T. Gaiman.. 

